Steam-pressing iron



April 28, l1931. H A KOENIG i 1,803,116

STEM PEssING IRON Filed June 1, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l /ff/fgfgj i i,

warg/Meng A TTORNEY H. A. KoENlG 1,803,116

STEAM PRESSLING IRON v med June 1. 192e 2 sheets-sheet' 2 April 28, 1931.

INVENTOR.' Har/y2?. Menig, BY l ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 2s, 1931 PATENT OFFICE HARRY A. KOENIG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA STEAM-PRESSING IBN Application led .Tune 1, 1929. Serial No. 367,642.

The present invention relates to pressing irons and more particularly to an iron using steam during its operation.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide an improved body construction for electric or other heated irons wherein provision is made for delivering dry steam through the face of the iron to the goods being ironed; to provide means for automatically separating water contained in steam delivered to a pressing iron so that the steam reaches the goods being ironed in a substantially dry condition; to provide an iron construction wherein water of condensation is prevented from reaching the steam discharge'- outlets; to provide a separating chamber 1n p a pressing iron through which steam is y initially conducted for the removal of contained water; to provide continuous channels for steam in the body of an iron, which chan-4 nels are arranged to divert the course of the steam and interrupt its flow to cause the separation of contained water; to provide an iron construction wherein is caused to follow a courseout of contact with water of condensation; and to rovide other improvements as will hereina er appear.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents a side elevation in part section of-a pressing iron embodying one form of the present invention; Fig. 2 represents a plan of the base of the iron; Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4--4-01 Fig. 2; Fig. 5

,35 represents a plan of the base with the superposed steam receiving member; Fig. 6vrepresents a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and Fig.

7 represents a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings one form of the present invention is shown as a body 10 consisting generally of a base 11, an electric heater element 12, a steam receiving member 13, and a, hollow cover 14- of the usual sad iron shape. The heater element 12 is of substantially the same size and shape as the base 11 and lies between the base 11 andthe member 13, where it is clamped in place by studs 15 which also serve to hold the cover 14, member 13, base 11 and the handle 16 together. Pref- 5o erably, the member 13 is made o/a non-corrodible metal such as bronze or aluminum. The heating element 12 carries the usual terminals 17 for attachment to a source of electricity and serves as the main supply of heat to the base 11.-

For the purpose of initially drying the supplied steam, separating contained water from the steam, and converting water of lcondensation into steam, the member 13 is provided at. one side thereof with an elongated upstanding Wall 18 of hollow construction forming a steam receiving chamber 20. An inlet 21 is provided to admit steam which is supplied y a pipe 22 threaded into the inlet 21. Intermediate the length of the wall 18 is a 65 laterally arranged rib 23 extending across the longitudinal axis of the member 13 and hav-l ing a port 24 leading to the chamber 20 at one end and opening at the otherend into a pocket 25 which is an enlarged continuation 70 of a through passage 26 leading to a base inlet 27. This passage 26 serves to receive a fastening screw 28 which screws into the base inlet 27 and as the screw 28 is axially t, channelled by a bore 30 the screw has a double functlon of securing the member 13 to the base 11 and of permitting free How of steam.

In order to break up the entering steam to Separate any contained water, the chamber 80 20 has a baiie 31 depending from the top of the member 13 into the path of the steam entering the inlet 21 but terminating in spaced relation to the floor of the chamber 20 so that the steam can How under the baiie 31 85 to reach the main portion of the chamber 20 with which the port 24 communicates. Any separated -water or water of condensation s reads in a thin film over the oor of the c amber 20-where it is immediately converted into steam. Thus no body of water can collect' to be again entrained with the steam and carried on to the discharge in the face of the iron.

The steam leaving the chamber 20 by way of port 24 enters thel pocket 25 and passes through the passage 26 to the inlet 27.' Here it enters la conduit 32 leading axially rearward of the base 11 and communicating with a vertically disposed port 33 which opens at um its lower end into a transverse eeder canal 34. The ends of this 'canal 34 communicaterespectively with forwardly extendingL channels wh1ch converge to meet near t e nose end of the iron. Adjacent the canal 34 and parallel thereto is a channel 36 forming an interconnection between the channels 35 and serving to supply a plurality of transversely arranged jet outlets 37 similar to other jet. outlets 38 which communicate with the chan-` nels 35. v These outlets 37 and 38 are located in suitable spaced relation and4 conform generally to the shape of the base in order to supply jets of steam to eiiiciently moisten the goods bein ironed. These outlets may vary as to numer and arranged as required for proper pressing of diiferent fabrics without departing from the invention.

When the 'iron is assembled 'and heated by the heater 12, steam is supplied to the inlet 21 and followsa course under the baille 31 to the main portion of the chamber 20, then out through the port 24 to passa e 26, bore 30 and base inlet 27. From the in et 27 the steaml turns rearwardly of the base through conduit 32 to enter the port 33 and be delivered to-feeder canal 34 leading to channels 35 and 36 which supply the4 jet outlets 37 and 38. It should be noted that the course of the steam is interrupted at intervals by .abrupt changes in direction the function of which is to break up the steam content and separate any water cargied by the steam. Thus when the steam enters the member 13 its course from the inlet 21 is brought to an abrupt stop by the baille 31 whereby the water is separated to fall to the bottom of the chamber 20 while the steam continues to exit through the lateral port 24. -When the steam reaches the pocket 25 it iS again subject to a change of direction and passes downward through the bore 30 to have its course again changed to enter the conduit 32. Atthe end of this conduit 32 it strikes the side face of the port 33 and turns downward into the feeder canal' 34 where it is divided into two paths to flow in op site directions and enter the channels 35 an 36. These successive interruptions result in the complete removal of vall entra-ined water by the time j the 'steam reaches the jet outlets 37 and 38 `and hence onl dr substantially super-- heated steam is roug t into contact with the goods. This is in direct contrast to the ordmary steam pressing iron wherein the `steam rushes directly to the jets and spra the goods with water to cause damage d; saturation.l n A g thus described my.` invention, I claim: v l' 1; A p iron com rising a base havmg channels with lura steam jet outlets commumcatmg wit the channels, a supersed heatinemeans, .al steam recei- 1 and rymg cham rron said means, a i in said chamber disposed adjacent a steam receiving inlet, a su plemental heating,con duit in the base adjacent the heating means, a vertical passage extendin from a point adjacent the to of the cham r to one end of said conduit, t e'upper end ofsaid assage communicating laterally with said c amber at the opposite side of said baie from said steam inlet and a downwardly extending outlet from the other end of said conduit to the channels in the base.

2. A pressing iron comprising a base having channels with a plurality of steam jet outlets communicating with the channels, a superposed electric heating element, a steam receiving and drying chamber on said element, a supplemental heating conduit in thebase adjacent the heating element, a vertical passage extending from the chamber to one end of said conduit, a tubular fastener in said assage securing the chamber and base tog'et A er and clamping the electric heating` element therebetween, and a connecting passage between the other end of said conduit and the channels in the base.

3. The combination in a pressing iron of a base having channels and a'plurality'of steam fiet' outlets communicating with the channe s and a steam inlet through the top connected with the channels b a conduit extending mainly adjacent sai top, a superposed electric heatlng element, and a cover, of a steam receiving and drying chamber disposed on the heating element within the cover, an outlet for said chamber ali ed with the steam inlet within the top o the base, and means positioned in the outlet for securing the chamber to the base and clam'ping the electric heating element therebetween.

Signed at`Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, this 23d day of May, 1929.

HARRY A. KOENIG. 

